Session was a washout as BJP avoided debate on Nirav Modi / Raffle / Dalit atrocities: Tankha

New Delhi: Holding the BJP responsible for the second half of the budget session, Congress leader Vivek Tankha on Thursday said the ruling party MPs had decided to forego allowances for 23 days of Parliament as a 'penance'.

In a post on social media, Mr Tankha said that the session was a washout because BJP did not want a debate on Nirav Modi / Raffle / Dalit atrocities and other issues. 

'Glad BJP MPs will forego 23 days honorarium as a penance !! This session was a washout because BJP didn’t want a debate on Nirav Modi / Raffle / Dalit atrocities etc. Hence happily watched TDP , AIADMK , disrupt house. Cong & opposition appeals went in vain,' Mr Tankha tweeted. 

MPs of the BJP and all parties in the NDA fold on Wednesday announced their decision to forego their salaries and allowances for 23 days of Parliament as a mark of protest against the disruptive tactics of the Opposition parties.

Parliamentary Affairs and Chemical and Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar said at a hurriedly-called press conference late on Wednesday evening, soon after the Union Cabinet meeting, that owing to the non-functioning of Parliament due to continuous disruptions by the Congress, BJP and NDA MPs had decided to forego their salaries and allowances for 23 days (equivalent to the time lost to disruptions).

'This money (allowances and salaries) is given to (MPs) to serve the people, and if we are not able to do so, we have no right to take the people’s money,' he said. (UNI)